Thanks to its economic dynamism, excellent infrastructure and the quality of its hotels, Lyon has become a major European business tourism destination.
Last updated date : 18/01/2024
Economy and higher education
- 1.38 million inhabitants in Metropolitan Lyon.
- 2nd leading economic centre in France with European Gross Domestic Product ranked 2nd in France
- 2nd most developed region in France in the healthcare sector and 2nd largest university hospital in France
- 1st French city for its digital technology influence
- Leading French city in terms of new business start-ups
- 102.631 Companies Headquarters and 1500 decision making centres (Sanofi Pasteur, Bio Mérieux, Renault Trucks...)
- Leading city in 6 sectors: biotechnology, chemistry/environment, digital entertainment, innovative textiles, transport & mobility, energy transition
- 2nd city for post-secondary studies and in terms of number of students (best student city in 2018-2019 according to l’Etudiant.fr), 13,300 researchers and 550 laboratories in Lyon
- More than 40 international NGOs,
Tourism and heritage
- 500 ha listed as Unesco World Heritage;
- Capital of gastronomy;
- 2nd congress city in France (ICCA - International congress and Convention Association rankings);
- 2nd French hotel capacity with18,929 rooms in Lyon Metropolis;
- 200 meeting spaces including 4 major dedicated sites;
- The Lyon Convention Centre hosts 350 events a year;
- Lyon organizes around a hundred trade shows a year at its main venues;
- Business travel accounted for 66% hotel bookings;
- 4th French airport with direct flights to 120 destinations , 3 TGV stations and 5 motorways 5 freeways linking all major European cities;
- Lyon Part-Dieu1st international train station in France with 125 000 passengers every day;
- Leading French city and 7th global city in the GDS-Index (Global Destination Sustainability Index);
- 2nd ‘Europe’s Leading City Destination 2021 WTA;
